[sspade]

@328dX

Can you please comment on the TC slack noise you are referring to (at start up)?

[328iX]

Originally Posted by sspade

@328dX

Can you please comment on the TC slack noise you are referring to (at start up)?

Yes at cold startup. The chain sounds like it’s slapping around and has no tension. After 1 minute of warmup it sounds normal at idle, But if I rev it, it sounds like it still has no tension. Only Once fully warmed up all of that is gone and engine is near silent. . Dealership claims it’s normal and they offered me to listen to another vehicle, I declined.

Even my sister who knows nothing about cars says it sounds bad. It’s not that diesel like clatter / mechanical clatter from DI engines. This sounds like a Metallicy chain noise.

[m1256]

Shouldn't a 06/2015 build date have the new, updated, timing chain, guides and tensioner?

[sspade]

Originally Posted by m1256

Shouldn't a 06/2015 build date have the new, updated, timing chain, guides and tensioner?

Yes, it does. This is a perfect example about why we don't take one persons verbal description of a perceived issue and translate that to an actual, confirmed issue.

As he said- The shop foreman said the sound he's referring to is normal. That's the most definitive answer we have at this point.


The N20 is not noted as a quiet motor by any means.

[Kwuiz]

Model: 2013 328i xDrive N20, build date 6/13.
Mileage: 72.8k
Timing Chain Status: Just noticed this week it's going bad and am brining to my mechanic on Friday to have it officially diagnosed. 2.8k miles outside of warranty zone, FML.
Oil Changes: Only owned car for 2 months and have yet to change it, I will obviously be changing it with timing chain replacement and will do 5-6k intervals.
Stop/Start Coded Status: Coded off since purchase.

[knowledge1213]

I purchased new, should I even be concerned about the timing chain issue? The car has been a tank with nothing but usual maintenance. Completely trouble-free in every way (117k) miles.

[sspade]

Originally Posted by knowledge1213

I purchased new, should I even be concerned about the timing chain issue? The car has been a tank with nothing but usual maintenance. Completely trouble-free in every way (117k) miles.

Build date?

Use mdecoder.com if you need to double check.

[328iX]

Originally Posted by sspade

Yes, it does. This is a perfect example about why we don't take one persons verbal description of a perceived issue and translate that to an actual, confirmed issue.

As he said- The shop foreman said the sound he's referring to is normal. That's the most definitive answer we have at this point.


The N20 is not noted as a quiet motor by any means.

I still have my personal opinion that something is wrong, in reality there probably isn't, but it just sounds so bad on startup it's hard for me to believe it's normal.

Nothing that could be done though, the good thing is that my complaint is documented if any issue does arise, but i'll just keep up on maintenance and i should be good.

[kobluna]

Originally Posted by 328dX

I still have my personal opinion that something is wrong, in reality there probably isn't, but it just sounds so bad on startup it's hard for me to believe it's normal.

Nothing that could be done though, the good thing is that my complaint is documented if any issue does arise, but i'll just keep up on maintenance and i should be good.

So it doesn't sound anything like mine, does it? For me this sound has been present for over 60 k miles (car has now 117 k miles) so I'm not too worry about it but still I rather would get rid of it if possible I just don't know what exactly rattles there.

[328iX]

Originally Posted by kobluna

So it doesn't sound anything like mine, does it? For me this sound has been present for over 60 k miles (car has now 117 k miles) so I'm not too worry about it but still I rather would get rid of it if possible I just don't know what exactly rattles there.

YES!! this exact noise! Theyre telling me this is normal?? The chain sounds like it's flopping around!

[andino]

That's normal for DI cars starting up with cold start. Mine does it as well. Part of that noise is also wastegate rattle but it's primarily DI noise during warm up.

[gzN26]

The above posts are accurate. The sound is pretty normal. The n20/n26 cold start can be loud at times and it doesn't sound the best...once it warms up for a few seconds then it gets quite. I feel like a lot of n20 owners mistake the natural sounds of the engine with TC and other issues. You would hear a significant whine when reving or driving.

I have a FBO n26 at 108k miles and it runs so smooth to this day. My indy shop recommended replacing it at 97k as a precaution but didn't pressure me because they knew my car was in great shape. They inspect the entire engine every oil change for leaks and such..so I trust them. Once it hit 110k-115k, it'll be time to open it up and replace all the gaskets, TC, and all that good stuff...about a $2,500 job.

Take care of the car and it'll take care of you. Even at low mileage, oil changes every 4-5k or, and use quality gas (91+ oct). Cant tell you how many times I see people fill up BMWs with 87octane.....and go 7-8k without an oil change. If you drive the car alot youll know when somethings wrong.

[kobluna]

Yep, this sound scared me also off when I first heard it. It's not really audible inside the car so I'm not sure if it has been there since new but definitely it has been there quite a long time and it hasn't changed nor I have any other problems.

I don't think that it's TC because as you can hear from video it's loudest under the car. It's not coming from muffler since it doesn't rattle there as loudly and also it's more quiet in front of the car. Also if the TC really would rattle that badly surely it would have failed already, wouldn't it?

[328iX]

Originally Posted by andino

That's normal for DI cars starting up with cold start. Mine does it as well. Part of that noise is also wastegate rattle but it's primarily DI noise during warm up.

This noise does not sound like an DI car I've ever heard, other cars have a distinct mechanical tick, while this one sounds metallicy.

Also, when I took it into the dealership because of that noise, they ended up replacing my entire turbo assembly / lines for free because they heard a wastegate rattle that even I didn't hear.

[Clean.F30]

Model: 2016 328i Xdrive build date 11.18.2015
Mileage: 53,000
Timing Chain Status: According to the dealer: Timing Chain Failure
Oil Changes: Every Bought CPO at 48k miles, 6k mile interval now
Stop/Start Coded Status: Not coded, just turned off
Additional Details:

Symptoms: I had a rough idle and the car shook below 10 MPH. I had codes 140010(Combustion misfire), 140210(Misfire cylinder 2), 140002(Combustion misfire, several cylinders. exhaust gas damaging after starting), 140202(Misfire, Cylinder 2, harmful after starting), 152D08(Super Tapping: Injection shutdown), 152308(Super knocking cylinder 3: injection shutdown), 140110(Combustion misfire: cylinder 1), 140102(Misfire cylinder 1: harmful to the exhaust after starting)

I was told that there was oil leaking from the spark plugs into the cylinders and that 2 of the cylinders were badly damaged. I never heard any of the sounds associated with timing chain failure. I thought timing chains and guides were fixed for the LCI cars. The engine was replaced under warranty. Has anyone had these symptoms happen to them?

[sspade]

Originally Posted by Clean.F30

Model: 2016 328i Xdrive build date 11.18.2015
Mileage: 53,000
Timing Chain Status: According to the dealer: Timing Chain Failure
Oil Changes: Every Bought CPO at 48k miles, 6k mile interval now
Stop/Start Coded Status: Not coded, just turned off
Additional Details:

Symptoms: I had a rough idle and the car shook below 10 MPH. I had codes 140010(Combustion misfire), 140210(Misfire cylinder 2), 140002(Combustion misfire, several cylinders. exhaust gas damaging after starting), 140202(Misfire, Cylinder 2, harmful after starting), 152D08(Super Tapping: Injection shutdown), 152308(Super knocking cylinder 3: injection shutdown), 140110(Combustion misfire: cylinder 1), 140102(Misfire cylinder 1: harmful to the exhaust after starting)

I was told that there was oil leaking from the spark plugs into the cylinders and that 2 of the cylinders were badly damaged. I never heard any of the sounds associated with timing chain failure. I thought timing chains and guides were fixed for the LCI cars. The engine was replaced under warranty. Has anyone had these symptoms happen to them?

Post a picture of repair order showing what was replaced under warranty. Feel free to redact/crop any personal information.

The notes will be an interesting read.

[Clean.F30]

Originally Posted by sspade

Post a picture of repair order showing what was replaced under warranty. Feel free to redact/crop any personal information.

The notes will be an interesting read.

Ya, the car is still at the dealer getting the wheels refinished because the messed them up. So when I get it back late this week or next week ill post it.

[m1256]

11/18/2015 build date. looks like the updated timing chain/guides and tensioner didn't fix the problem?

[Silverlining_m2]

Originally Posted by m1256

11/18/2015 build date. looks like the updated timing chain/guides and tensioner didn't fix the problem?

That's unfortunate if true. I have a 2013 so I'm right in the danger zone but I am honestly starting to believe the issue is less common than I thought, when I started reading the forums a couple months ago... thankfully. I've only had it for just over a month. It was keeping me up a night lol. I've resigned myself to only do pretty mods and not tune my n26. Doesn't seem worth it to mess with it. Still quick in these streets and I don't race anyway.

[GreenF30N26]

Originally Posted by m1256

11/18/2015 build date. looks like the updated timing chain/guides and tensioner didn't fix the problem?

Is this a question or a statement. I don’t see any evidence to suggest that this is true. Also consider that the new components in isolation still could fail. Bad manufacturing or unlucky general failure. Shit happens but doesn’t mean we should expect to see failures and on mass for the updated components.

[Clean.F30]

Originally Posted by MRii328i

That's unfortunate if true. I have a 2013 so I'm right in the danger zone but I am honestly starting to believe the issue is less common than I thought, when I started reading the forums a couple months ago... thankfully. I've only had it for just over a month. It was keeping me up a night lol. I've resigned myself to only do pretty mods and not tune my n26. Doesn't seem worth it to mess with it. Still quick in these streets and I don't race anyway.

Ya, I was told over the phone by the service manager that the timing chains failed. The thing that seemed weird was that I didn't experience any of the symptoms beforehand and the car should have the updated chain and guides. I personally don't think that the timing chains were the cause of the engine failure because I haven't read about another owner having the symptoms that I had, and the car was put on the flatbed under its own power.

[Clean.F30]

Originally Posted by Clean.F30

Ya, I was told over the phone by the service manager that the timing chains failed. The thing that seemed weird was that I didn't experience any of the symptoms beforehand and the car should have the updated chain and guides. I personally don't think that the timing chains were the cause of the engine failure because I haven't read about another owner having the symptoms that I had, and the car was put on the flatbed under its own power.

Here is the work order